Georgia District Launches ID Card, Crisis Alert Systems

Schools in Douglas County are introducing an access card system and crisis alert system to improve safety on their campuses.

By Jessica Davis

March 15, 2019

Schools in Douglas County are introducing an access card system and crisis alert system to improve safety on their campuses.

The first Douglas County school to launch a new card access system was New Manchester High School in February. The access card system requires students and staff to use their ID badges to access specific areas. The user taps their card to a building access sensor, which then grants them secure access to a campus door.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Kwame Carr, the new access control system lets administrators control who can enter campus and during what hours.

"The Douglas County School System is eager to provide our students and educators with an extra layer of security during the school day," Carr said. "Our goal is to have each of our high schools equipped with the same identification card technology that will enable our school system to maintain a secure and locked campus throughout the school day."

The Douglas County Schools system has also purchased technology to keep students safe inside their classrooms. The district plans to have Crisis Alert technology installed and tested at all campuses by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

The Crisis alert system gives every staff member on a campus a device that can be used to trigger an instant school-wide alert. The staff member can use their device to signal for administrative help if there is a classroom medical or disciplinary emergency, or trigger a school-wide lockdown with visual and audio notifications. If used to trigger a lockdown, law enforcement is immediately notified.

Superintendent Trent North said he hopes the new technology will reassure students, faculty, staff and parents.

"Our community trusts us to keep over 25,000 students safe every day," North said. "We are proud to partner with companies committed to keeping our students and staff safe. By having these systems in place, it will allow us to remain focused on providing a safe, secure learning environment for all."